Vanderbilt Clinical Neurosciences

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) can be an effective way to treat Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. In DBS, surgeons implant a system that stimulates the brain with electricity. The system includes electrodes in the brain as well as a device that controls the electricity. This corrects abnormal brain circuits that cause involuntary movements. DBS has helped more than 30,000 patients with Parkinson’s Disease. It can also treat tremor, dystonia, spasticity and rare disorders such as Tourette Syndrome and Huntington’s disease. Research has shown that it can also help treat conditions such as epilepsy, depression and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
 

Why Vanderbilt?

Vanderbilt was one of the first medical centers in the U.S. to test and approve DBS. We remain one of the most active academic centers performing DBS in the country. Our DBS team has stayed at the cutting edge of the surgery, using a modern “frameless” technique for the surgery. This means patients don’t need uncomfortable “halo” frames. We work with research engineers at Vanderbilt to create a digital atlas of the brain that makes electrode placement more accurate. This is important, because the small size of the targets being treated requires precise placement. Learn more.

Research

Our team pursues research to improve DBS therapy and advance our understanding of neurological disease. The Vanderbilt research team includes engineers and computer scientists, which helps us find new ways to improve both technique and technology. Vanderbilt recently received a NIH grant for sophisticated computer-guided targeting and electrode placement. We have also received a grant for research into the safety and possible benefits of DBS in early Parkinson's disease. Our goal is to make DBS safer and more effective in treating movement disorders and other neurological diseases.

Our DBS Team

DBS surgery at Vanderbilt is a team effort, combining diagnostic, surgical and technical expertise. Our neurosurgeons (Drs. Konrad and Neimat) work closely with a treatment and research team that includes specialists in movement disorders neurology (Drs. Charles, Cooper, Davis, Fang, Hedera, and Phibbs), a neuropsychologist (Dr. Tramontana), and clinical neurophysiologists (Drs. Kao, Remple and Camalier). This helps us offer state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment for all types of movement disorders.

Referrals for OCD Treatment

If you'd like to make an appointment to learn more about surgical treatment, you'll need a referral from your doctor. Most patients are referred by psychiatrists. Please have your psychiatrist complete an OCD Referral History Form before you schedule your first appointment. Your doctor can email DBSforOCD@vanderbilt.edu and we'll send the form. We must review the full history form before we can schedule an appointment.